Klein says "no political deals" with Senate Democrats

Sen. Jeff Klein, D-Bronx, reiterated today that he no plans to try to rejoin with the Senate Democratic conference.

NY1 reported earlier this week that Sen. Michael Gianaris, D-Queens, and Klein were planning to meet to discuss a possible reconciliation. The meeting didn't happen, and Klein has since dismissed the speculation.

Klein heads the five-member Independent Democratic Conference. The conference in 2013 joined with Senate Republicans to share the majority, shutting out Senate Democrats who won the majority in the 2012 elections.

Klein said the coalition is working "very, very well and that’s why I’m not looking to make any political deals."

Klein said the coalition has work to do as the legislative session resumes April 28 and runs through mid-June.

"I’m not looking to make any political deals," Klein told Gannett's Albany Bureau. "We have the rest of the session to do important legislation and move our legislative agenda. And there will be plenty of time for politics when we enter the election year."

Klein faces a potential primary challenge from Oliver Koppell, a former New York City councilman, because some Democrats are displeased with Klein's power-sharing deal with Republicans. Klein's district runs into lower Westchester County.

Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, said today that no discussions are underway with Klein. But she said she continues to hope for a Democratic majority in the Senate -- which, she said, voters wanted in the 2012 elections.

"No. That didn’t happen and wasn’t happening," Stewart-Cousins said of a potential summit with Klein. "I always say the voters elected a majority of Democrats to lead the Senate and that would be the optimum result -- clearly that voters get what they expected and that we are united Democrats in serving the people of New York."

Albany bureau chief:
Joseph Spector is Gannett's Albany Bureau chief and has covered New York politics and government since 2002. He was the political reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester and in 2007 joined Gannett’s Albany Bureau, covering state government for seven news organizations&nbsp;and USA Today.